- Date
- November 11, 1983, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Monte Vista, CO
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2416HBalloon Works Firefly 7
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19831111063319A
- Case key
- 16302
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The plt was participating in a 'hare & hounds' balloon contest. The aircrews were wx briefed at the launch site before the event. Reportedly, there was a front approaching but it was not expected to move thru until about 2 to 3 hrs after the contest. According to the plt, the winds were blowing at 3 to 5 mph when he took off. About 15 min after takeoff, he observed that the wind on the ground appeared to be increasing & elected to land in a plowed field. He planned to land from a rapid descent to avoid being dragged by the winds. The plt reported that during the landing, he didn't bend his legs & subsequently broke his right leg above the ankle during touchdown. He reported the winds were gusting to 25 KTS.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2416H
- Reported as
- Balloon Works Firefly 7
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- 7717
- Airframe hours
- 166
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- T. J. Company
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 28, 1983
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 29
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Unknown
- Flight hours
- 28 total · 28 in this make and model · 13 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 19 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.